APRICOT. 2o 



should therefore be gathered at least twenty-four hours 

 before they acquire the last degree of maturity. 



The apricot-tree produces its blossom buds not only on 

 the last year's wood, but also on the curzons, or spurs, 

 from the two year old wood. Great care should be 

 used, in pruning, not to injure them ; and it is advisable 

 to remove all fore right shoots in the growing time. 



The Brussels and the Breda apricot are the best as stan- 

 dard trees : they are all propagated, by grafting them on 

 plum stocks, excepting the Alberge, the seed of which will 

 produce the same fruit, or with very little variation. 



Madame de Genlis relates the following anecdote, 

 which cannot be translated so as to retain the wit, which 

 depends on the agreement of the French name for apri- 

 cot-tree with the inscription alluded to. 



Apres la mort de Louis XI, au commencement de la 

 regence de Madame de Beaujeu, plusieurs personnes fu- 

 rent disgraciees ; entre autres, Cotier, premier medecin 

 du feu roi, qui s'applaudissant d'etre echappe de cette 

 cour orageuse, fit sculpter sur la porte de sa maison un 

 abricotier avec cette inscription, ' A 1'abri Cotier.' 



